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Morning Serums That Really Work

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I love being asked skincare questions. It means I can ramble about the differences between toners and essences to a captivated audience. So when someone asked me about what serum they should be using in the AM, it got me thinking about the Morning Serums That Really Work…

When in doubt, add in a skincare-specific serum to supercharge the skin all day

The All-Rounder – Bodhi & Birch Super 25 Botanical Serum

If you also subscribe to the more is more school of thought when it comes to treating your skin, then oh boy… Have I got the product for you. I’ve fallen hard for British brand Bodhi & Birch thanks to this beautiful serum which contains an impressive 25 super seed extracts (I’ve listed them all below for reference!). The ingredient list is long but it’s all packed full of 75.5% organic natural ingredients and none of them are essential oils which can sometimes be a bit much for skin. Due to the high-oil content it does feel very rich on the skin; a little goes a long way. It absorbs fairly quickly though, so I can’t imagine it being too heavy or that it would interrupt makeup longevity. I take 2-3 drops and spend a few minutes working it into skin before adding some moisturiser in the morning. Oilier skins could skip subsequent steps. The glow is immediate, and skin looks far better after application.

The Pollutant Protector – Dr Roebuck’s Tassie Anti-Pollution Serum

Here’s one for anyone who lives or works in a city… Pollution is real! I take anti-pollution skincare with a pinch of salt, because it’s very much designed to market towards women with disposable incomes, worrying about their pores. Y’know. But there are products that contain antioxidants which do protect against free-radicals. I’m sort of sat in the middle, conscious that city smog might be ruining my skin but also demanding to see results-led products. So, Dr Roebuck’s. Ingredients-wise this has myramaze (propanediol) to moisturise and combat dehydration, aloe vera to hydrate and soothe the skin, retinol (small amount) to promote cell renewal, blueberry extract for antioxidant properties and amino acids to fight free-radicals. Texture wise, it feels hydrating on the skin and acts as a good serum should – laying the foundation for moisturiser/SPF, whilst looking after the skin. All the side effects of pollution used to scare-monger? This should easily combat them. Also, the brand is free of… parabens, sulfates, phthalates and silicones.

The Rehydrator- Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

I have tried many, many serums designed for dehydrated skin in my beauty blogger life. The ones that work the most effectively on my skin always contain glycerin, which is one of nature’s best humectants (meaning it draws moisture into the skin). Happily, this serum from Caudalie touts glycerin as one of the top ingredients, so thumbs up on that account. With grape fruit water, one of Caudalie’s hero ingredients, included too, this serum is the equivalent of a big drink of water. Skin drink it up right away. Thanks to the light texture, it’s absorbed immediately and it just gets to work at rehydrating skin. Perfect if you can’t abide heavy textures when worn under makeup. It’s also light enough to be used on any skin type (because dehydration is a condition, not a type!) without clogging the pores. I’ve been especially loving this in the recent hot weather, as it’s making sure skin doesn’t get too parched.